While the team structure and MI-STEP guidelines are changing for FY25, we will maintain the following services this year that we have traditionally offered:

• MI-STEP: Limited to travel uses only for FY25. Starting Nov. 1, 2025 $1.2 million will be available to Michigan small businesses to support export development activities, up to $15,000/year.
• Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers (GSGP): Our partnership with GSGP will continue in FY25, offering access to 135+ global markets.
• Automation Alley: We will continue to partner with Automation Alley to organize three trade missions in FY25. Automation Alley completed a successful October trade mission to Mexico with seven companies and is currently recruiting for upcoming trade missions to India in January 2025, and Southeast Asia in May 2025. Spots are still available, so please register if you are seeking to grow sales in these regions.
• Van Andel Global Trade Center: Technical assistance is available including new to export trainings and export compliance as well as regular export programming, such as the “Doing Business In” series.
• Michigan Small Business Development Center (SBDC): Early export assistance, landed cost analysis and international SEO support is still available through the SBDC for Michigan exporters.
• MSU International Business Center: Multi-country market research reports (Michigan Export Growth Program) and ExporTech assistance are available.

**Note: In FY25, MEDC International Trade program will not be offering subsidized support for legal trainings through Foster Swift, or microsite/marketing translation through IBT Online. However, we encourage companies to utilize these services as needed and can make appropriate introductions when needs arise. We have benefited greatly from these partners’ services and hope Michigan exporters will continue to utilize these services as needed to support the growth and development into new global markets.

We are proud to share that through MEDC’s partnership with the Michigan Manufacturers Association, we recognized Midland-based Gantec as the winner of our 2nd Annual Michigan Manufactured Export of the Year Award. We celebrated Gantec’s export success at the MMA Excellence Award ceremony on Nov. 6.

Join the Michigan booth at Aeromart Montreal, the most prominent aerospace and defense supply chain event in Canada March 25-27, 2025. Large contingents of supply chain, engineering and product development teams from Canadian Primes will connect with suppliers and service providers through the show’s matchmaking platform: Airbus, Bell, Bombardier, Héroux-Devtek, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, RJ Aviation and Pratt & Whitney.

Aeromart Montreal is also open to other OEMs with an extensive presence and business in Canada such as the Boeing Company. Hundreds of Canadian companies will be joined by international delegations. Take a look at the 2023 participants list.

Remember: Aeromart Montreal is not a traditional exhibition. It’s a business-to-business event reserved for vetted professionals and based on pre-arranged meetings.

How does it work? You must sign up to attend, and your registration fee is covered by MEDC. Two and a half weeks prior to the forum you'll have to identify and request meetings with relevant contacts through the show’s detailed online catalog. Your approved meetings will be pre-arranged and held in Montreal, Canada. Contact Brendan Cherry if you are interested in joining at cherryb2@michigan.org.

Nov. 20 – Winning Strategies for Trade Shows & Trade Missions: MSU International Business Center’s Global Business Club has partnered with MEDC to share best practices for how to prepare for trade shows and trade missions. Drawing on over 20 years of experience, John Gelmisi will highlight how participating can provide significant networking opportunities and keep you updated on industry trends and current competitors. Register here by Nov. 20, 2024.

December 2024 & April 2025 – South Korea: Attend a free webinar, Grow Your Exports to South Korea, for Great Lakes St. Lawrence region companies on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. For companies seeking to enter or expand into the South Korea market, register today for a free webinar and join our multi-sector trade mission April 6-11, 2025. Registration deadline is Jan. 22, 2025.

Jan. 17-25, 2025 – India Trade Mission: Join the Michigan trade mission to India with visits to New Delhi, Pune, and Bengaluru, with an option to attend the Bharat Mobility Global Expo in New Delhi. The trade mission fee is $4,500 for Automation Alley members, which includes matchmaking meetings, group dinners, five-star hotel accommodations (with breakfast), and in-country ground transportation. Airfare is not included. A 50 percent reimbursement for travel and trade mission fee expenses is available through the MI-STEP grant program for eligible companies. Apply Here by Nov. 15, 2024.

April 2025 – Explore Business Opportunities in the Americas: Join the U.S. Commercial Service for Trade Winds – The Americas, the largest U.S. government-led trade mission and business development forum. The forum will take place in São Paulo, Brazil from April 7-9, 2025. You may also add matchmaking meetings with pre-screened buyers, agents, distributors or joint-venture partners in: Brazil (April 9), Colombia and/or Uruguay (April 3-4), and Argentina and/or Chile (April 10-11).